How can they beat the Big Dude at Auckland on Thursday night? It’s Lebowski time again
The Big Lebowski finishes second last in the Auckland Cup but is unlucky, close up and hard on the back of Copy That.
The Big Lebowski will touch a small price at Auckland on Thursday night but it’s impossible to see him beaten.
Just 12 days after his unlucky run in the Auckland Cup against the best pacers in the country, the giant six-year-old drops to a rating 58 to 71 race and meets them off even terms from behind the gate, courtesy of being driven by claiming junior Andrew Drake.
The last time he competed in a similar 2200 metres race, in the lead-up to the cup, The Big Lebowski smashed his five rivals by 11 lengths in a sizzling 2:38.4.
“On paper he looks the winner,” says Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green. “It’s certainly a big drop in class from the Auckland Cup.
The Big Lebowksi scores by 11 lengths in his Auckland debut. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“He’s drawn the outside but that won’t matter. It’s actually a good draw for him as he won’t have to be racing to hold the lead.
“He can slot in somewhere and, in a small field, he won’t be too far off them. And if they start walking, he’ll be all over them quickly.”
That’s exactly what The Big Lebowski did in his 2:38.4 blitz, moving up from the rear at the 1300 metres to sit parked outside leader Nicholas Cage at the bell.
Green says he would have liked to see what the horse could have done in the Auckland Cup had he not first had trouble making the final bend then been held up on the back of his stablemate Copy That, finishing just 3.5 lengths from winner Akuta.
Driver Tony Herlihy reported The Big Lebowski hung so badly on the turn he was unable to come out to make his home stretch run.
“We can’t break him into a pole in time for this race but we’ll do something to help him round the corners, like add a rein burr.”
Green says the stable is still learning about The Big Lebowski - “This is only his third start for us but you can’t fault what he’s done so far.”
Green fears, however, that should the horse win on Friday, he’ll already be handicapping himself out of racing here, given the shortage of higher class horses and prohibitive handicapping system.
Andre Poutama teams again with capable front-runner Beaudiene Rocknroll.Green was pleased to see Beaudiene Rocknroll land a good front row draw in the fifth race, which will give him the chance to lead again.
Punters saw how potent the three-year-old was from the front at Cambridge last week when he led all the way for Zachary Butcher.
With Butcher switching to the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Gandalf on Thursday, the drive goes to Andre Poutama who also operates well making play.
“Hopefully he can lead again. He’s been unbeatable leading at the trials and he looks to be on his game now.
“They didn’t go any time at Cambridge (2:43.8) but he smashed them. He can’t do more than that.
“The only thing different this time is he’s going right-handed. I’m not exactly sure he’ll go as well that way but I’m still confident he’ll go well.”
Lincoln River and part-owner Phil Kelly.Green is hoping Lincoln River doesn’t race as fiercely as last week in the sixth race where he meets an in-form line-up.
“He over-raced considerably last time which was a bit out of character. He’s normally quite laid back and has to be reminded of his obligations.”
Instead, Lincoln River pulled hard early and when let stride by Butcher, he unsuccessfully challenged for the lead before being restrained to three back. Despite not settling there, he remarkably still found more up the straight to finish just a neck behind Irish Whispers.
“I’m sure if he’d led, he’d have won easily,” Green said. “He’s a good, honest horse.”
Lincoln River cops a niggly five draw on Thursday so Drake will need to secure a good passage in a field of promising types.
Poutama takes the reins on My Copy in the same race and will be reliant on a little luck from two the second row.
My Copy showed he was in good trim at Cambridge last week where, from his first good draw in ages, he showed encouraging gate speed from the pole and trailed throughout, finishing second behind the well regarded Bri Express in a fast 2:39.8.
Major Achievement has taken a long time to arrive. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Poutama also guides Major Achievement in the second race, but Green isn’t expecting to see much from the debutant, drawn the outside of the gate.
“If he finishes in the first half of the field I’ll be happy. He hasn’t drawn where you’d want to be but we have to start somewhere and it will be good experience for him.”
With six workouts and a trial this preparation, Green says it has taken Major Achievement a long time to arrive.
“But he’s starting to come to the party and he’s got a bit of speed and pedigree.”
By Art Major from Atom Queen, the three-year-old is a half brother to Upanatom (27 wins) and Zacharia (12 wins).
